The 12 Best Places to Retire in the U.S.

We dream of the day when we can put our out-of-office notification on forever and settle down in the sort of place previously reserved for vacations. But where to go? Condé Nast Traveler surveyed readers ages 68 and older about their favorite places in the U.S.—where they live, where they play, where the city is safe and the locals friendly. Not surprising, the sunny beaches of Florida and California made the cut—but where else? Click through to decide where you'd like to hang your hat...or, more accurately, park your vintage convertible. (Hey, you deserve it.) Plus: Vote for your favorite hotels, cities, airlines, and more in the 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards survey.

12. Palm Springs, California

Best for: retirees looking for a vibrant community (there's an established LGBT and Hollywood expat scene, and millennials descend each April for Coachella music festival); outdoor activities (the weather allows for swimming, hiking, biking, and golf year-round); furniture and design stores where we would eagerly blow our kids' inheritance; and top medical facilities.

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11. Palm Beach, Florida

Best for: high-end shopping on Worth Avenue; restaurants that will keep Manhattan snowbirds happy; and a lively, senior-friendly social scene—all a short walk or drive to the beach. You’ll need a hefty retirement fund to settle here (helpful: for every seaside mansion, there are plenty of one-bedroom condos), but if your wallet is deep enough, you can enjoy the upscale vibe, gorgeous weather, and full permission to wear seersucker and Pulitzer year-round.

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10. Napa Valley, California

Best for: oenophiles (obviously) and people who want to invest in their own slice of wine country; food lovers who don’t mind a months-long wait to eat at The French Laundry; retirement communities that feel like anything but (more like you’re living on a 20-acre estate); and proximity to the arts and culture of nearby San Francisco.

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9. Savannah, Georgia

Best for: history buffs looking to revel in the slower pace of life; an affordable city known for its stroll-able gardens and cobblestoned streets; some of the best golf courses in the state; and a thriving arts community (catch a show at the Historic Savannah Theatre, which first opened in 1818) and architecture scene that will keep you well occupied. (Is it Federal, Victorian Regency, Greek and Gothic Revival, or Italianate?)

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8. Santa Barbara, California

Best for: soaking in that SoCal sunshine, without the bustle (read: traffic) of Los Angeles; a lovely downtown with Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission Revival buildings, filled with enough art galleries and museums to keep culture-lovers occupied—and then, of course, there's the waterfront. A longtime favorite among the 65+ crowd, the Santa Barbara area is also home to dozens of retirement communities.

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7. Charleston, South Carolina

Best for: a hefty dose of Southern charm, whether you're seeking the best Lowcountry fare or walking along the waterfront near rows of 18th-century Georgian townhouses; friendly residents; affordable living costs; and lots of senior activities. Golfers, fishermen, and boat enthusiasts will all feel at home here, and there’s an international airport nearby if you plan to spend your retirement jet-setting.

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6. Sarasota, Florida

Best for: the Florida beach vibe—on a budget. Homes are cheaper here than in Naples and Palm Beach—two other retirement favorites—and you still enjoy the benefits of no state income tax. Residents are a mix of young and young-at-heart, more so than other areas on this list, and there are both waterfront and golf course retirement communities for those looking for senior living. From beautiful beaches to low-key attractions (including an opera house and a baseball stadium used for MLB spring training), all are easy on your retirement savings.

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5. Sedona, Arizona

Best for: reliably warm weather (sans humidity); a lively arts scene—including an annual film festival, a monthly art tour, and galleries featuring local artists; and affordable housing combined with a reputation as being one of the most tax-friendly states in the country. There are also plenty of doctors, treatment and wellness centers, and yoga retreats to keep you healthy. For the adventure-inclined, nearby forests, canyons, and trailheads all afford ample opportunities for walking and picnicking.

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4. Naples, Florida

Best for: the active senior set, who want to take a break at an upscale café between rounds of tennis and golf at the club. Choose between your own stucco mansion, a high-rise condo with waterfront views, or one of the many gated retirement communities in the area—regardless, you’ll have access to Florida’s west coast, where you can spot a dolphin from the pier or stroll the white-sand beaches.

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3. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Best for: perfecting your golf swing (Pebble Beach is one of the best courses in the country, and there are unexpected challenges—deer! otter!—that will only improve your game); golden beaches and forest hiking trails; proximity to pinot and chardonnay vineyards; and a healthy population of well-heeled seniors who love sampling the good life.

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2. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Best for: art-inclined retirees looking for a livable, walkable “Creative City,” ideal for gallery hopping, shopping, or exploring Museum Hill, where it’s possible to spend a full day just in the Museum of International Folk Art. There are also approximately 300 days of sunshine a year; and seniors 65 and over comprise nearly 20 percent of the population.

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1. Asheville, North Carolina

Best for: healthy living, which isn’t just a buzzword in this fresh-air town (it might have the highest vegetarian-restaurant-to-person ratio in the country). Asheville also benefits from a youthful spirit—thanks largely to nearby universities like UNC-Asheville—and scenery that compels all to stay active. Hike the Blue Ridge Mountains, golf at the Omni Grove Park Inn, or kayak at Lake Junaluska.